OAKLAND | CITY COUNCIL RACES | The real money in Oakland politics exists in District 4. While the current council member from the Oakland Hills district, Libby Schaaf, is running for mayor leads the pack in fundraising, the main candidates to replace her are also the top two fundraisers in all three council races during the first half of this year.

Jill Broadhurst, who ran for the seat in 2010, raised $64,301 during the first six months of this year, according to finance reports filed last week. Oakland school board member Anne Campbell Washington, who was appointed to the seat in 2013, was not far behind with $62,987. Paul Lim, the third candidate in the race, did not file a finance report.

The money race in District 4 only heightens the level of competition in a race that may not feature the level of comity ranked choice voting is often touted to deliver. During a candidate’s forum July 31, Broadhurst and Washington exhibited a bit of coolness to each other. At one point, one of them gave a hint of an eye roll while the other was speaking.

In District 2, although the amount of campaign contributions is not individually at the level of District 4, yet four of the five candidates showed strong numbers. The seat is held by Council President Pat Kernighan, who announced last winter she would not seek re-election.

Peralta Community College board member Abel Guillen led the field with $51,630 raised this year. Guillen’s fundraising prowess is not surprising due to his strong ties to labor. He is also well-known after a strong campaign in 2012 for the State Assembly. Former KPIX news anchor Dana King also showed good numbers, especially for a newcomer to politics. She reported $43,266 in contributions, according to finance records. Andrew Park raised $36,997 during the first half of 2014 to edge out Kevin Blackburn, who reported $36,257 in contributions. Sokham Mao, a member of the Citizens Police Review Board raised $3,469.

The race in District 6 features Oakland’s only council campaign this year that includes an incumbent. Councilmember Desley Brooks raised just $9,959 during the six months of this year, according to finance reports, but leads in cash in hand. Brooks reported a campaign war chest of $29,616, through June 30.

However, in another case, of District 4 money potentially making a difference in this year’s election, Schaaf’s council aide, Shereda Nosakhare, raised more money this year than her three opponents combined. Nosakhare reported $20,226 in contributions this year. Michael Johnson raised $8,782 this year, but like Brooks,he reported a larger pool of cash with $15,442 cash in hand.

The figure could put pressure on the incumbent Brooks, who most believe will win re-election, to raise more money. Johnson’s strong performance at a candidates forum last week also raised some eyebrows. Not only was Johnson’s arguments well-honed, but it appeared the normally confident Brooks was caught on her heels by the onslaught. A fourth candidate, James Moore, did not file a finance report

23Comments

In some ways it's not surprising that Broadhurst did so well, she is probably the favorite in the D4 race. What is surprising is that Broadhurst outraised Campbell Washington, who has massive union and city hall support. This one is going to be fun to watch.

So's the race for mayor. Despite city hall and union support for longterm city hall types running for mayor like Kaplan, Schaaf and of course Quan, there seems to be lots of support for new faces like Parker, Tuman et all. Broadhurst is the outsider for D4.

Jill Broadhurst is a sham; she is detested by her employees; she tries to muscle Montclair merchants to get their support; she is executive director of a pro landlord / anti tenants – East Bay Rental Housing Association – it is a landlords' lobbying group.

Interview any of her employees – talk to Montclair merchants – she is mean spirited and selfish – that is indeed worth noting.

I know both Annie and Jill quite well. I can assure you both candidates are nice, hard working people. D4 voters are fortunate to have 2 strong candidates to choose from. In Annie you have a seasoned staffer versed in city government . In Jill you have a community leader, more of an outsider change agent. It really comes down to a voters personal preference – D4 is lucky.

I know both candidates because I've worked with them. Based on that experience, it is my opinion Annie is better for the job because she already has city hall and schools leadership experience; indepth knowledge of city and school issus, operations and finances; and lastly Annie works well with everyone because she values the diversity of community participation. Jill has a temperment problem accepting viewpoints that she does not personally agree with and on occassion attacks those who express them which is antithetical to community participation.

Campbell Washington has forfeited any chance of winning. How? She has endorsed Mayor Quan for re-election. And Mayor Quan has endorsed Campbell Washington. Talk about being out of touch with any sense reality.

I agree. I have personally witnessed Jill Broadhurst's attacks against anyone offering a different opinion. Her only viewpoint is to get herself elected – the community activist tag is simply not true.

And the most telling endorsement of them all:Anne Campbell Washington endorses Mayor Jean Quan for reelection. Wow, Anne clearly thinks Oakland's leadership is perfect just as it is. Just more of the same incompetence.

In my opinion, Ms. Broadhurst’s recent misuse of the Sierra Club logo on her campaign literature reflects an integrity problem on her part. This is not the first time that Ms. Broadhurst has done something like this, and it’s important for the voters to know about it before they cast their votes.

Ms. Broadhurst is responsible for the same deceptive thing on an April Montclair Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) mailer sent to everyone in Montclair, and on her website when she claimed to be “the founding member” of the Montclair NCPC. She was forced by Nick Vigilante (me), one of two actual founders, to change her website. Now, Ms. Broadhurst’s website reads “a founding member.” This is still somewhat misleading because she was not involved in the beginning efforts to form the Montclair NCPC in 2002 and before she was elected to the inaugural NCPC Board in May 2003.

The mailer I am referring to above was paid for by donations from Montclair residents collected by the Montclair NCPC. This money is suppose to be used for non-partisan activities such as safety and community betterment. If you examine the mailer, you will ask yourself why on earth would they give Ms. Broadhurst so much coverage on this mailer which promotes raising 60K in donations for a mural? This is not what an NCPC is used for – soft political campaigning?

As you know, Oakland has high rates of crime and fire and eartquake safety risk factors. Those problems should be given priority consideration by NCPCs. The Montclair NCPC is attempting to raise 60K for a mural !!!. In my opinion, this is a misguided effort. Jill Broadhurst is the Chair of the Montclair NCPC and she is responsible for that NCPC does. Is this what Jill Broadhurst will do if she becomes a City Council Member?

I hope you will consider the comments above before you decide which candidate you think is best for the City of Oakland.

In my opinion, Ms. Broadhurst’s recent misuse of the Sierra Club logo on her campaign literature reflects an integrity problem on her part. This is not the first time that Ms. Broadhurst has done something like this, and it’s important for the voters to know about it before they cast their votes.

Ms. Broadhurst is responsible for the same deceptive thing on an April Montclair Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) mailer sent to everyone in Montclair, and on her website when she claimed to be “the founding member” of the Montclair NCPC. She was forced by Nick Vigilante (me), one of two actual founders, to change her website. Now, Ms. Broadhurst’s website reads “a founding member.” This is still somewhat misleading because she was not involved in the beginning efforts to form the Montclair NCPC in 2002 and before she was elected to the inaugural NCPC Board in May 2003.

The mailer I am referring to above was paid for by donations from Montclair residents collected by the Montclair NCPC. This money is suppose to be used for non-partisan activities such as safety and community betterment. If you examine the mailer, you will ask yourself why on earth would they give Ms. Broadhurst so much coverage on this mailer which promotes raising 60K in donations for a mural? This is not what an NCPC is used for – soft political campaigning?

As you know, Oakland has high rates of crime and fire and eartquake safety risk factors. Those problems should be given priority consideration by NCPCs. The Montclair NCPC is attempting to raise 60K for a mural !!!. In my opinion, this is a misguided effort. Jill Broadhurst is the Chair of the Montclair NCPC and she is responsible for that NCPC does. Is this what Jill Broadhurst will do if she becomes a City Council Member?

I hope you will consider the comments above before you decide which candidate you think is best for the City of Oakland.